Automatic sectionalizing switch



A ril 22, 1958 L. v. CHABALA 2,832 0 AUTOMATIC SECTIONALIZING SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1955 v April 22, 1958 v. CHABALA 2,832,010

AUTOMATIC SECTIONALIZING swrrcu Filed June 21, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- Fig. 2.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR J50: Leonard V. Chobulu 9v MM BY L. V. CHABALA AUTOMATIC SECTIONALIZING SWITCH April 22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Filed June 21, 1955 United States Patent 2,332,010 7 AUTOMATIC SECTIONALIZING SWITCH Leonard V. Chabala, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 21, 1955, Serial No. 517,040

8 Claims. (Cl. 317-23) My invention relates generally to automatic sectionalizing switches and it has reference in particular to an automatic sectionalizing switch for load pickup operations; 7

Generally stated, it is an object of my invention to provide a simple and inexpensive automatic sectionalizing and load pickup switch that is reliable and positive in operation.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide a sectionalizing switch having separable contacts which are normally latched closed and for actuating the.

latch by a time delay device in response to loss of voltage.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a sectionalizing switch for using an air dashpot device for releasing the switch operating mechanism'a predetermined time after loss of voltage.

- Yet another object of my invention is to provide in an automatic sectionalizing switch for actuating a latch to open the switch by means of a time delay device which is responsive to loss of voltage.

It is also 'an object of my invention to provide latch means in connection with an air dashpot time delay dey, vicefor suddenly imparting an actuating force to release ,the latch in response to relatively slow movement of the time delay device. I

It is another important object of my invention to provide in an automatic sectionalizing switch for using an air dashpot delay device in conjunction with an impulse release mechanism which prevents application of any f tripping forceto the switch latch until a suflicient force is available to insure positive operation of the latch.

Yet another important object of my invention is to provide in an automatic sectionalizing switch for using a dashpot time delay device remotely located from the switch latch for mechanically releasing the latch upon 7 loss of voltage, and for using a plug-in type thermal time delay device for delaying energization of a closing solefnoid for the switch for a predetermined time after voltage is restored.

Other objects will, in part,-be obvious and will, in part,

' be explained hereinafter.

In practicing my inventionin accordance with one of its embodiments a, switch is provided having separable contacts which are operated by a toggle mechanism having a handle extension on one lever of the mechanism for manually operating the switch. A releasable latch is pro- .videdfor releasing the toggle mechanism, and an undervoltage device having an air dashpot for delaying opera tions is located in a control enclosure mounted exteriorly of the tank in which the switch is mounted. A flexible push type wire cable connection is provided'between the Closing of the switch is efiected a 2,832,010 a Patented Apr. 22, 1958 For a complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description which may be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a reduced front elevational view of a switch embodying the invention in one of its forms; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the switch taken generally along the lineIIII of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the control enclosure shown in Fig. 1; y p

Fig. 4 is a plan view, broken out in part, of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 2, i

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a distribution systern illustrating an application of a switch embodying my invention; and

I Fig. 6 is a partial elevational view of the operating mechanism. a p 7 Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, itwill be seen that my invention may be embodied in a switch generally of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,697,149, which issued to James M. Wallace and Alvin W. Ogg on December 14, 1954. As therein disclosed, the switch 10 is enclosed within a metal tank 11 which is provided with an insulatingliner 12 and is surmounted by a top casting 14. An incoming line enters by means of conductors 17 which pass through bushings 15 and 16 mounted on the casting. Since the view shown in Fig. 2 is a central section only the bushing 15 is shown with its conductor 17 which ter-.

minates in a stationarycontact 18 at the lower end, it being realized that each of the bushings is provided with a similar contact. These contacts are bridged by a contact bar 20 which is slidably mounted on an insulating contact pull rod 21. The contact bar 20 is located beneath the upper leg '22 of a substantially L-shaped bracket 23 secured to the contact rod 21, by means of a pin 24 which extends through the rod adjacent at the lower end and through projecting tabs 25 at the lower endof the bracket 23.

j s The contact rod 21 is actuated by an operating mechanism 26 which comprises, as shown inFigs. 2 and 4, a lever 28 which is generally triangular in shape. The contact rod21 is connected to one apex or terminal point of the lever 28 by means of a pin or pivot 29. The lever 28 is pivotally supported at another terminal point or apex' by means of a pivot 30 connected to a supporting lever 32 at a point intermediate its ends. The lever 32 is pivotally supported on the casting 14 by means of a pivot 34 secured to the depending leg 35 of a substantially L-shaped frame36 secured to the underside of the casting 14 by means of bolts 38. Since thedepending leg 35 of the frame 36 is located in front of the operating mechanism, it has been broken away to show the operating mechanism more clearly and is thus shown in a dot-dash outline only. A reset spring 37 is mounted on pivot 34 and engages the leg 35 and pivot 30 so as to bias lever '32 clockwise to the reset position shown. This position is accurately determined by an adjustable cam stop 31,which is rotatably mounted on depending leg35 of the frame 36 to engage pivot 30 as shown in Fig. 6.

The other end of the support lever 32 is provided with a roller 38 which is'normally engaged by a releasable bell crank latch 40. The latch 40 is rotatably mounted on a pivot 42 supported by the depending leg of the frame and comprisinga bell crank lever 43 having a substantially horizontal leg portion 44 and an upright portion 45. In order to provide for reducing the force required to move the latch 40 and release the roller 38, a toggle lever 46 is pivotally mounted on the up-right leg 45 of the latch 40 by means of a pivot4 6. This toggle lever is provided with a shoulder" 47 'for setting the roller 38 and a projection. 48 for engaging a lateral tab'49 of the a; ;up.-right.leg whichisradaptedto engage the edge of the .depending leg of the frame when biased in a clockwise direction by means of aresetting spring 50, so as to maintain the pivot 46 in a slightly overcenter position. In order'toprovide for openingand closing the switch -"10,La.togglemeans 52 is provided, comprising'as shown -in:Eig. 2, a pair of levers'53 and54 which have a common overcenter:togglepivot .55. The.lever53 is conmectedto the;operating lever28 by a pivot.57 while the lever 54 is pivotally mountedv onthe. casting14 by means .ofa pivot 58. .The lever54 is provided with a handle extension which projects through an opening 61 in the side wall ofthe casting 14 intoahooded extension 62, where it is accessible for .manually operating the .switch. ,Thehandle extension. 60 .is provided with an adjustable stop suchas a bolt64'which is .threadably mounteddnthe hooded .extension;62, so as to locatethe v pivot-55in a. slightly overcenter position when. the switch is closed. .In-order to;provide for closing the switch 10 electromagnetically, a solenoid 66 is provided havinganarmature67 whichis pivotally connected to the handle 54 by means of a pivot-68 foroperating the lever 54 in a direction to move the toggle pivot 55 downwardly to its overcenter position. Thesolenoid 66. is positioned between a substantially U-shapedpole piece 70 and a plate 72 whichare secured, togetherby means of bolts 73. The plate'72is supportedfrom ,thecasting 14 by means of bolts and spacers 75:secured tobosses 76 and 77 extending downwardly from the casting 14 and armature 67 ex- .tends through anopening therein. A cut-off switch 80 .is provided-for the solenoid 66, being mounted on the pole piece 70 so as to be actuated bythe armature 67 tointerrupt the energizing circuit forthe solenoid 66 when the switch 10 is closed.

,To provide for opening theswitchltl inresponse to a loss of voltage on the circuit inwhich it is connected, the usual sectionalizer counter is omitted, and instead, a voltage responsive time delay device 82 is provided. As .shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, thistime delay device may .be ofthe dashpot type and is mounted on a panel 83 in an enclosure 84 which is mountedon thecasting 14 by means of a conduit 85 which provides aconnection betweenthe control enclosure and the interior ofthe casting 14. A time delay relay 8610f the'plug-in type is also mounted on the panel 83 l1aving.a:bimetallicswitch member 86' and a heater 87 for controllingenergization of the solenoid 66 ina manner which ,will hereinafter be described.

In order to provide ,forreleasing thelateh 40 in re sponse to loss of voltage a trip lever 88 is pivotally mounted by means-of an L-shaped'bracketi89 so as to have one end positioned beneath thehorizontal leg 44 of the bell crank lever 43, as shown in Figs. 2.and-4.

The other end of the lever 88 is;connected toa flexible .is delayed in its upward motion when .the solenoid is deenergized, by means of ardiaphragrn 98 forming a part of a dashpot 99 which is provided withan adjustable valve 100 for controlling venting of the dashpot. A switch 101 is provided for disconnecting the solenoid 95 and heater 87 from a source of electrical energy.

In order to provide a positive operating force 'for actuating the trip lever 88 in response to movement of the armature 96, a latch mechanism.may be provided comprising a lever or trip actuating member 102 which is pivotally mounted'by means of. a pivot 103 securedtoa bracket 104' located adjacent the lower end of the solenoid '95. The flexible control wire'90 is connectcd'adjacent the remote end of the lever 102. A latch lever 104 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 104 so as to normally engage one edge of an opening 107 in the lever 102. A spring 108 connected between a point adjacent the end of the lever 102 and the latch 104 at a point near pivot maintains the levers in operating relation. A collar 110 is provided on an extension 111 of the armature 96 for engaging the free end of the latch 104 to withdraw it from theopening 107 after predetermined movement, of the armature 96. This prevents movement ofthe lever 102 during initial movement of the armature 96 ..and provides for sudden actuation of the lever 102 by spring '108 when the latch-104 is released. Positive movement of the flexible control wire 90 to release the latch 40 and open the switch is therefore insured.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, it will be seen that a distribution circuit may be provided with a reclosing circuit breaker 115 of any suitable type well-known in the artforproviding a predetermined number of closely successive interruptions of the circuit in response to a fault distribution before locking open to completely deenergize 'the'circuit. Load circuits 116 and 117 being supplied by the circuit breaker 115 may be provided with sectionalizing switches 10 and 10 of the type hereinbefore described. The time delay afforded by the time delay device 82 is suflicient to prevent opening of the switches 10 and 10' during the operating cycle of a plurality ofsuccessive openings and closings of the reclosing circuit breaker 115,

so that the switches 10 open only in response to a loss of voltage on the load circuits 116 and 117 such as crates to bias the armature 96 upwardly. Movement of the armature in this direction is delayed by application of the dashpot .99. After a predetermined time delay, the armature 96 moves upwardly a sufficient distance for the collar 110 to engage the lip of the latch lever 104.

Continued movement of the armature 96 upwardly withdraws the lower edge of the latch lever 104 from the opening 107 in the lever 102, so that the lever 102 is suddenly free to move upwardly in response to action of the spring 97 and the connecting spring 108. This impulse Inotion-is transmitted by means of the control wire '90 to the trip lever 88, which rotates in a clockwise direction causing the bell crank lever 40 to be actuated in a counterclockwise direction. Movement of the bell crank lever 43 in a counterclockwise direction breaks the toggle relation between the bell crank lever 43 and the toggle lever 46 so that the toggle lever moves in'a clockwise direction collapsing the toggle relation and releasing the roller 38. The support lever 32 will open, dropping .the normally fixed pivot 30 of the lever 28 and breaking the overcenter toggle relation between levers 53 and 54, and opening the contacts 18, 18' and 20.

The switches 10 and 10' will remain open until the reclosing circuit breaker is reclosed. Upon closing of .the circuit breaker 115, voltage is applied to the distribution transformer 118 and the time delay relay 86 is activated by reason of its heater 87 being energized. I This-causes deflection of the bimetallic element 86' closing contacts 86a and 86b to shunt the heater 87 and provide a low impedance energizing circuit for the solenoid 66 through thecut-ofi switch 80, after a predetermined time 1 delay. Thesolenoid 66 thereupon actuates the armature 67 in a direction to pull the overcenter toggle link 55 downwardly to its ;overcenter toggle position to effect closing of the switch. Opening of cut-off switch 80 disconnects the solenoid 95 andheater 87 from the source .so that the heater is not continuously energized, and can cool off so as to give consistent timing, even afteropentermined time after voltage is restored. By using a toggle release lever the tripping force necessary is reduced from a variable quantity on the order of from 4 to 16 ounces to one ounce or less. The dashpot release latch permits triggering a relatively strong spring which is stressed by the solenoid in its most powerful operating range, to im- 7 part a definite operating impulse to the bell crank latch,

no matter how delayed the operation of the delay device.

This provides a simple and reliable switch for automatically sectionalizing different load circuits whenever they are deenergized by the opening of their circuit breaker and permitting selective reclosure of them at difierent timed intervals so as to limit the inrush current caused by aloss of diversity due to the circuit remaining deenergized.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic load pickup switch, separable contacts, an operating mechanism for said contacts including a toggle linkage having a releasable latch member holding said mechanism in a position with the contacts closed, a latch mechanism including an operating member biased to release said latchand a latch member preventing movement of the operating member, an air dashpot mechanism having an armature with spring means biasing it in a direction to release said latch member, and a solenoid acting on said armature to set said latch mechanism and restrain said biasing means as long as the voltage remains above a predetermined value.

2. In a switch, separable contacts, an operating mechanism for said contacts including a lever having a latch for retaining it in a position to hold said contacts closed, a time delay device having a movablemember movable to effect release of said latch a predetermined time after loss of voltage, and means for applying a sudden actuating force to said latch in response to operation of said time delay device including an operating member movable to actuate said latch, a pivotal latch member releasably engaging the operating member to prevent such movement, said latch member being released by the movable member of the time delay device, and a spring connecting the operating member to the latch member to provide the operating force for actuating the operating member.

3. A load pickup switch comprising, separable contacts, I

an operating mechanism for said contacts including a toggle linkage having a manual operating handle on one lever and a releasable latch for opening the contacts independently of said toggle linkage, electroresponsive means having an armature connected to said one lever for closing said contacts, time delay relay means connected to prevent operation of said electroresponsive means until a predetermined time after voltage is available at said contacts, and voltage responsive time delay means located remotely from the latch, said delay means having a flexible push control Wire connection with the latch connected to actuate said latch to effect opening of said contacts a predetermined time after voltage is removed from one of said contacts, whereby closing by the electroresponsive means is prevented until the delay means resets.

4. In a switch, separable contacts, an operating mechanism for said contacts, electromagnetic closing means operable to actuate said mechanism to close said contacts, latch means releasably holding said mechanism'in a position with the contacts closed and movable to release said operating mechanism free of said closing means, trip means operable to move said latch means including undervoltage release means having a movable member with biasing means for operating the movable member and a solenoid restraining said biasing means so long as the voltage remains above a predetermined value, means connecting the trip means and latch means including a lever having a latch normally holding the lever in an inoperative position and actuated by additional biasing means to release said lever after the biasing means moves the movable member a predetermined operating distance, and a flexible control wire connecting said lever and sai latch means.

5. A load pickup switch comprising, a tank having an open top, a cover removably secured to said tank, separable contacts supportedin said tank from said cover, operating mechanism for said contacts including a toggle linkage supported in saidtank from said cover and means including a releasable latch providing a pivot for said toggle linkage whichis movable to open said contacts, electroresponsive closing means connected to said toggle linkage for operating the mechanism to close said contacts,

an undervoltage trip device mounted exteriorly on said cover, delay means for said undervoltage trip device, and means including a stored energy trip member located externally of the tank and connected to the latch by a flexible control wire actuated by the trip device to actuate said latch to release it.

6. A load pickup switch comprising, a cover, a tank secured to the cover, separable contacts, an operating mechanism for said contacts dependent from the cover in said tank including a toggle means having two links with two terminal pivot points and a common intermediate pivot point which constitutes an undercentertoggle point, latch means normally holding one of said terminal pivot points releasable to move said tog'gle means from one undercenter position to another to open said contacts,

lever means operable to move another of said terminal pivot points to open and close said contacts, voltage responsive means operably connected to said lever to move it in a direction to close said contacts, and trip means comprising an undervoltage time delay device mounted outside the cover with a flexible push type control wire mechanical connection extending into the tank connected to the latch means to actuate said latch means to collapse the toggle associated therewith a predetermined time after a failure of voltage.

7. In a load pickup switch, a cover, a tank secured to the cover, separable contact means, an operating mechanism for said contact means supported from the cover in the tank including a lever having a normally fixed pivotv and a toggle means having two links with a common pivot point which comprises an overcenter toggle point, one of said links being connected to said leverat a point spaced from its normally fixed pivot point, electromagnetic closing means connected to the other of said links to actuate it in a direction to move the toggle pointovercenter in a direction to close said contacts, a toggle linkage latch supporting said normally fixed pivot point, undervoltage meansmounted remote from said toggle linkage latch, a biased releasable member connected'to said toggle latch, said undervoltage means being operable in response to loss of voltage to one of said contacts to release said biased releasable member and permitit to effect collapse of said toggle latch supporting the normally fixed pivot and thereby prevent closing operation of said operating mechanism for a predetermined time after voltage is restored to one of said contacts, time delay means operable to delay operation of the undervoltage means, and time delay means connected to delay operation of the closing means for a predetermined time after voltage is restored at said contacts to apredetermined value, which time is greater than the reset time of the undervoltage means.

r 8. A load pickup switch comprising, a tank, a cover for '"saidifltanlg, separable. contacts disposed in said'tank, 'an "operating mechanismsupported in said tank fromsaid "cover to open and close said contacts including a lever haying'a normally fixed pivot and toggle means ofvtwo links with a common pivot point which comprises an over center togglepoint, one of said links being connected to said, lever at a point spaced from its normally fixed pivot point, electromagnetic closing means having an armature connected to the other, of said links to move said toggle means overcenter to close said contacts, latch means releasable to effect movement of said normally fixed pivot ;in adirection to cause collapse of said toggle means and open said contacts regardless of energization of the closing means, a control enclosure supported exteriorly on said cover, means in said enclosure comprising normally restrained stored energy actuating means having a flexible connectionto said latch, an undervoltage relay mounted in'said enclosure connected to be operated in response to ,a lossof voltage to one of said contacts to releasesaid Stored energy actuating means and permit it to release said latch means, said undervoltage relay being reset with a predetermined time delay after voltage is restored to one of'said contacts, and a plug-in time delay relay in said :enclosure connected to be operated in response to restoration of voltage toone of said contacts and effect energiza- References Cited;in the-file of this patent [UNITED J STATES PATENTS Loguin :May 30, 1916 Steen 1 Aug, 15, 1916 Stem -Aug.i22, 1916 Austin Nov. 5, 1929 Greenwood Mar. 3, 1931 ,Grissinger -Mar.:31, 1931 Wood Sept. 25, 1934 :Shocmakeret a1 Oct. 19, 1937 Thurnin Mar. :22, .1938 Parsons June 13,1939 Parsons Nov. 7, 1939 .Bostwick .--Apr.,28, 1942 Wallace ct al Dec. 14, 1954 Edwards: et .al. Feb. :8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany "'Nov. 29,1917 Switzerland :Ian. 2, 11931 

